Home Page of the Annual "Gathering of the Masters"

2010 is looking to be a blow out of a year in Crestview, FL!

Confirmed for April 16-18, 2010 is:

9th Degree Grand Master Rudy Timmerman (Canada)
9th Degree Grand Master KS Hwang (Connecticut)
8th Degree Grand Master Grand Master James McMurray (Texas)
8th Degree Grand Master Geoff Booth (Australia)
8th Degree Grand Master Troy Trudeau (Tennessee)
7th Degree Chief Master Marlin Sims (Georgia)
6th Degree Master Kevin Janisse (Oregon)
6th Degree Master Thomas Gordon (Florida)
5th Degree Master Chris DuFour (Florida)
5th Degree Master Gregory Bledsoe (Florida)
3rd Degree Mr Calvin Longton (Florida)

Meeting the Keynote Session Leaders:
Grand Master Kwang Hwang – 9th degree from Manchester, CT
		Grand Master Hwang was born in Teagu, Korea and started training in 1953. He joined the Republic of Korean Army as a commissioned officer in 1964 and served as a Korean Airborne and Ranger officer. While in Vietnam, he taught Taekwon-Do to the Korean Tiger Division, the Korean Army, the US Army, US Marines, and Vietnamese Army while receiving commendation medals from Korea and Vietnam. He has black belt rankings in TangSooDo, Judo, and Hapkido, and the second highest ranking Taekwon-Do stylist alive today. Grand Master Hwang is the founder of the Unified International Taekwon-Do Federation open to all taekwondo stylists.
Grand Master Rudy Timmerman – 9th degree from Sault Ste., Ontario Canada
		A native of Holland, Grand Master Timmerman started his training in 1950 at 10 years old. Since that time, he has achieved numerous master level rankings in Ju-Jitsu, KukSool, and Hapkido. He also has black belt rankings in Nihon Jiu Jitsu and Taekwondo. In 2006, while in Korea, Grand Master Timmerman was awarded ninth degree black belt by Grand Master Seo and KongShinBup™ was officially recognized as a kwan. In 1974, Grand Master Timmerman established National Korean Martial Arts Association (NKMAA) which serves as an umbrella organization for martial artists in the Korean arts.
Grand Master James McMurray – 8th degree from Harker Heights, TX
		Several national magazines have rated Master McMurray as one of the top weapons experts in the United States. (Karate Illustrated; Black Belt; Official Karate; Taekwondo Journal and Traditional Taekwondo). Holding several master level and grand master black belts in MooHapSool, TangSooDo, and Hapkido. He is also the military martial arts director at Fort Hood, TX. Master McMurray is an Ex-Special Forces / U.S. Ranger Combat Instructor and served two consecutive tours in Vietnam and Southeast Asia with the 5th Special Forces Group at B-52 (CCC).
Grand Master Geoff J. Booth – 8th degree from Liverpool, Australia
		Teaches and trains at the Headquarters, located in Moorebank, New South Wales, Australia. Currently holding the rank of Eighth Degree in Hapkido, under the Korea Sin Moo Hapkido Association and Grandmaster Han, Jae Ji. He started his training in 1977, and has trained and is ranked in Tae Kwon Do & Southern Shaolin Tiger & Dragon Kung Fu. He is the founder of the International Hap Ki Do Alliance and the Australian Hap Ki Do Group. His passion for Hap Ki do is shown by his development of a conceptual way of teaching. This style is called Kwan Nyom Hap Ki Do.
Chief Master Marlin Sims – 7th degree from Atlanta, GA
		Founder of the United Martial Science Federation and one of the first four non-Asians to attain master level in the martial art of Kuk Sool™. He has trained in the martial arts since the age of 10 and has toured nationally & internationally since 1985. He has appeared on many local, regional and international televisions and radio shows. He has been in national and international publications demonstrating his much sought after knowledge of joint manipulation, the use of Korean style weapons and hyung (body motion). From 1991-1999, he was the Master Instructor for the United States Military Academy at West Point from 1991 to 1999.

Each one of these session leaders have a story of their own and the five keynotes easily get $125-299 per participant for conducting their own seminars.  To have men of this caliber at one event is rather unusual and hasn't been done in the past.

Tentative Schedule:

Friday night starts things off with keynote presenter Grand Master KS Hwang of ITF is leading a session that is open to all ranks, ages, & styles.  He will be going over ITF Taekwon-Do fundamentals as taught to him by the late General Choi.  Being one of seven promoted to 9th degree by General Choi, he is a very sought after instructor.  Since this seminar is open to everyone, it can be attended for $45 without attending the rest of the weekend.  Family members are welcome to watch if their child is participating and everyone is encouraged to take advantage of the dinner with grand masters and masters at the Chinese buffet.

Saturday kicks off with Meet & Greet at 8AM.  At 9AM, coming from Canada is keynote presenter Grand Master Rudy Timmerman of NKMAA is leading a session like only he can do.  Always entertaining and information, Grand Master Timmerman pulls from 60 years of training in the martial arts.  He has more ways to inflict pain than a Bayer has pills for.  He has a full DVD set of Kong Shin Bup, been featured in many articles and on the cover of Taekwon-Do Times in 1997 and again for July 2010.

From 10:30AM-12PM is another keynote presenter all the way from Australia with Grand Master Geoff Booth of Sinmoo Hapkido is leading the second morning session.  Grand Master Booth was recently promoted to 8th degree by Dojunim Ji.  His sessions are hysterical and often painful.  Just released his four set DVD set and also slated to share the cover of Taekwondo Times with Grand Master Timmerman.

At 1:30PM we will have the first rotation of master level session leaders.  There will be three sessions running simultaneously and you are welcome to take whichever you prefer. 

2:30PM will be another keynote presenter of Chief Master Marlin Sims.  He is a Kuk Sool Won legend being one of the first four non-Asians to be promoted to master level in Kuk Sool Won.  He has been featured on the cover of Taekwondo Times and Art of the Warrior.  From 1991-1999, he had the distinct honor of teaching Kuk Sool Won at West Point for the United States Army.  He has agreed to lead a session on knife throwing that is bound to be a rememberable seminar. 

4PM will be will second rotation of master level session leaders.  There will be three sessions running simultaneously and you are welcome to take whichever you prefer. 

Saturday evening is dinner at the best Steak House in Crestview!  Starting at 7:30PM, we will have some demonstrations, dinner, and good time mingling with the instructors and participants.  Due to luggage & travel issues, this will be a casual dress event.

Sunday from 9-10:30AM will conclude the 2010 Gathering of Masters with one of the all time favorites and final keynote presenter Grand Master Jim McMurray from Texas.  We never know what Grand Master McMurray is going to bring to the table but we always know it'll be exciting.  He's done choking seminars, joint locks, knife defense, and sticks.  Never bashful and always smiling, you won't want to miss this session.

---

While some events are scaling down, this event is getting better and better.  In order for this event to be successful, it has to be done without politics and egos.  This event is only a success because of the willingness of these men to come to Crestview and share their talents and knowledge.  This is certainly going to be a stellar event with five keynote speakers that can easily draw on their own more than the cost of this event with all five and six other master level instructors.

Go ahead and register now because you won't want to miss it!

Several ways to register.  You can use paypal below, fill out the registration and mail it to us with payment, or send/fax registration and call in with credit card.  Do it before March 31 and get $25 off weekend seminar registration!

Weekend Seminars starting Friday night and going through Sunday morning (must be 14 or older) $125 (early registration price)
Friday night seminar only (open to all ages) $45
DVD set of event (video done by Master Janisse and includes shipping) $50
Friday night dinner at Chinese Buffet for Adult (all inclusive - dinner, drink, & tip) $15
Friday night dinner at Chinese Buffet for Child 11 or under (all inclusive - dinner, drink, & tip) $11
Saturday night dinner at Coach-N-Four Steakhouse for Adult (all inclusive - dinner, drink, & tip) $20
Saturday night dinner at Coach-N-Four for Child (all inclusive - dinner, drink, & tip) $12
Checkout

Download Packet with registration (6 megs)

FAQ

2009 Gathering of Masters

2008 Gathering of Masters

2007 Gathering of Masters